Course: Advanced Needling 2 Date: June 2009

Doc: Quiz 2 Study Sheet

This Study Guide covers classes 5, 6, and 7. Topics covered are Dr. Tan’s Balance Method, Dr. Tan’s
Five systems and Master Tong technique and points.

Dr. Tan’s Balance Method

Basics

Upon what is Dr. Tan’s method based?

TCM meridian theory and the contralateral needling principles of the Neijing.

What are the best clinical applications for this method?

Mostly for many types of pain and pain-like sensations (numb, tingle, itch, burn, cramp,
etc.), but can also be used for some internal diseases and skin diseases.

What are the 5 basic steps you employ in a Dr. Tan type treatment?
1. Diagnosis of the sick meridian
2. Choose one of the five systems to pick the meridian to be needled
3. Choose Mirror/Reverse Mirror (for limb problems) or Imaging Format (for trunk
problems)
4. Palpate chosen area for tenderness and ashi points.
5. Needle

How long are the needles retained and how often do you stimulate the needles?
Retention is 45 – 90 minutes, at least 1 stimulation

The Five Systems

Know the systems by the numbers rather than by the names.
In each system, you first identify the sick meridian and then pair it with the meridian you wish to
treat. The systems help you pick this meridian and each system has a “formula” you use to
determine the right one.

System 1 – Chinese Anatomical Imaging

☯ Pairs channels of the same Chinese name

☯ Yin treats yin and yang treats yang. Example:

Hand Taiyang to Foot
☯ Hand treats foot, foot treats hand Taiyang, contralateral.

☯ Needle contralateral side.

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System 2 – Branching Channel
☯ Uses Chinese channel names so that Water treats
Fire and vice versa like so…
Yang/Fire Yin/Water Example:
Hand Shaoyang to Foot Shaoyin,
Taiyang Taiyin
either side.
Shaoyang Shaoyin
Yangming Jueyin

☯ Yang treats Yin and vice versa

☯ Hand treats Foot and vice versa

☯ Can needle either side, but if condition is one sided, needle affected side.

System 3 – Interior/Exterior Relationship Example:

☯ Interior/Exterior related channels, Problem on the ST channel (Foot
i.e., LU to LI, KI to BL. Yangming) would be treated by the
Spleen (Foot Taiyin)
☯ Yang treats Yin and vice versa

☯ Hand treats Hand, Foot treats Foot

☯ Needle contralaterally

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System 4 – Chinese Clock/Opposites
☯ Meridian selection based on the Chinese clock
which follows the flow of the channels Example:
(hand taiyin hand yangming, etc…) KI channel prob (foot) LI
channel (hand), either side
Use the channel opposite the diseased meridian depending on tenderness.
on the clock. Remember that Gallbladder is midnight, Heart is noon. You can figure
out the rest from there based on the flow of the channels.

☯ Yang treats Yin and vice versa.

☯ Hand treats Foot and vice versa.

☯ Needle contralateral or same side (ipsilateral)

depending on where tenderness is.

System 5 – Chinese Clock/Neighbor

☯ Use the channel next to the diseased meridian on
the clock.

☯ Yin treats Yin, Yang treats Yang. Example:

Liver channel problem Lung
☯ Foot treats Hand and vice versa. channel (not gallbladder!) on
contralateral side.
☯ Needle contralateral side.

Quick System Comparison chart

Look at the patterns below. It’s pretty easy this way

System Yang ? Upper/lower Which side

System 1 Yin Yin Hand Foot Contralateral
i.e. Shaoyin Shaoyin
System 2 Yang Yin Hand Foot Same side
i.e., Shaoyang Shaoyin or either side

System 3 Yang Yin Hand Hand Contralateral

i.e., Internal channel External
channel
System 4 Yang Yin Hand Foot Contralateral
Clock opposites or either side

System 5 Yin Yin Hand Foot Contralateral

Clock neighbors

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Mirroring and Reverse Mirroring
☯ Mirroring/Reverse Mirroring treats problems on the limbs.
☯ Elbows and knees are “pivot points” for mirroring.
☯ Note that in all of the five systems, with the exception of System 3, upper limbs treat
lower limbs and vice versa.

Mirroring
Like to like on the upper and lower limbs: fingers to toes, wrists to ankles, upper arm to thigh,
etc.

Finger Toe
Hand Foot
Wrist Ankle
Forearm Lower Leg
Elbow Knee
Upper Arm Thigh
Shoulder Hip

Reverse Mirroring
Still upper limb to lower limb, but spin one of ‘em around using the knee or elbow as a pivot
point so that you are matching the finger to the top of the hip, elbow to knee, shoulder to ankle,
etc.

Finger Top of hip

Hand Hip
Wrist Hip joint
Forearm Thigh
Elbow Knee
Upper Arm Lower leg
Shoulder Ankle

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Imaging Format

☯ Choose imaging for problems affecting the head and trunk.

☯ Imaging matches the area of sickness on the head/trunk onto the four limbs of the
body. (Actually, imaging can be done anywhere – auricular acupuncture is an
example of imaging)
☯ Points on the limbs that reflect the sick portion of the head/trunk will often be tender,
weak or tight.
☯ Overlay a leg or arm on the trunk from perineum to top of head with the elbow or
knee at the umbilicus/L2 area.
☯ Like mirroring, there is imaging and reverse imaging.
☯ Joints match up to joints. For example: wrist/ankle matches up to sacral area in
imaging or neck/neck joints in reverse imaging.

Imaging

Sick area Needled area

Testicle/anus Finger/toe
Genitals/coccyx/sacrum Hand/foot
Bladder/lumbo-sacral Wrist/ankle
Lower ab/lower back Forearm/lower leg
Umbilicus/L2 Elbow/knee
Upper ab/rib cage/chest or Upper arm/upper leg
mid to upper back
Neck, jaw, base of skull Shoulder/hip joint
Top of head Top of shoulder/top of hip

Reverse Imaging
Sick area Needled area
Top of the head Finger/toe
Head/base of skull Hand/foot
Neck/neck joint Wrist/ankle
Upper ab, rib cage, chest, Forearm/lower leg
mid/upper back
Umbilicus/L2 Elbow/knee
Lower ab/lower back Upper arm/upper leg
Genitals, coccyx, sacrum Shoulder/hip joint
Testicles, anus Top of shoulder/top of hip

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Master Tong’s Orthodox Acupuncture

Uses 12 principle areas rather than 12 meridians, numbered to match parts of the body.
Know these!

Body area points Number

Finger points 11
Palm/dorsal hand 22
Forearm 33
Arm 44
Sole of foot 55
Dorsal foot 66
Leg 77
Thigh 88
Ear 99
Head/Face 1010
Back DT
Chest/Abdomen VT
DT stands for Dorsal Trunk
VT stands for Ventral Trunk

Some characteristics to know about the use and theory Tong Points:

☯ Tong techniques use very strong stimulation.

☯ Analogous Correspondence
Like tissue treats like tissue – treat the bone for bone problems with strong stimulation,
muscle for muscle problems.

☯ Holographic Correspondence
Kind of like imaging theory or principles behind auricular acupuncture using the ear as a
hologram for the whole body.

Example: Picture a sitting Buddha superimposed over the face for instance with the top of his
head at the top of the face and the sitting part at the mouth/chin area. 1010.19 and 1010.20
for instance just below the mouth are the reflex area of Kidney and treat lower back problems
and asthma due to Kidney not grasping Qi.

☯ Da Mao Needling Method

Many identified points are actually sets of multiple points (i.e. Mu is actually a 2 point
combination, often referred to as wood anger by ‘Tong-ians’…by the ‘Tong-ese?’) These
combinations give greater punch to the effect. Many points use between 2 and 4 needles.

This is from the Nei jing.

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☯ Activating Qi or De Qi method
Contralateral insertion plus movement of the affected area to move or activate the Qi.

☯ Inducing Qi or Chien Yin method

Contralateral insertion plus same-side (ipsilateral) distal needling at the Shu Stream point to
guide the Qi.

☯ Distal Bloodletting
Master Tong techniques use it not just distally, but all over, often combined with cupping.
This is referred to as treatment of vascular pathology as blood stagnation induces many
ailments.

This may not shake out like you think, by the way…you can use bleeding on the back in the
Tong system to treat knee problems!

☯ There are 7 lines on the back: the two UB lines, the two Jiaji lines, and the Du line.

☯ Some of the points (like Liver 2 and 3) in the Tong system may be slightly different than you
learned them in Point Locations.

☯ The original Master Tong system does not focus on tonifying or reducing…though some of
the disciples of Tong do add this.

☯ Different depths give different effects

(i.e., 77.18 at ½ cun = SP, 1 cun = KI)

☯ Slightly funky matching of collaterals:

Lung Bladder
Spleen Small Intestine
Heart Gallbladder
Kidney San Jiao
Pericardium Stomach

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30 Most Common Master Tong Points
Know the point number (not the name), what indications the point has, and the imaging
principles as to why that point is for that indication.

Finger Points

11.06
☯ Location: center of ulnar aspect of ring finger.
☯ Indications:
o Gynecology:
Uterine pain, tumors
Irregular menstruation
Leucorrhea with redish cast
Fallopian tube blockage
Retroversion of uterus
Vaginal swelling
Frequent miscarriage

11.24
☯ Location: 2 points ulnar margin of thumb. Divide proximal
phalanx into 3 equal parts, points lie on dividing lines.
☯ Indications:
o Gynecology:
Uteritis
Pain (ac or chron) of uterus
Hysteroma
Female sterility
Irregular menses, dysmenorrhea, menorrhea, scanty
menses
o Other:
Distention of lower abdomen

11.17 (this is the Mu or Wood anger point)

☯ Location: 2 points on ulnar aspect of index finger. Divide
proximal phalanx into 3 equal parts, points lie on dividing
lines.
(Draw a tic-tac-toe board. Insert on the crossings on the
ulnar side.)
☯ Indications:
o Liver stuff
Hyperactivity of Liver fire
Irritability
(Used clinically for almost any emotional instability)

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11.27 – Five Tigers
☯ Location: 5 points on the radial border of the thumb.
Divide the proximal phalanx in half to find the mid
point. Then find the ¼ and ¾ marks. The other two lie
inbetween.
☯ Indications:
o Bone swelling and pain of the whole body.
Point 1 is for hands
Point 2 is for assistant for 1 and 3
Point 3 is for toes
Point 4 is for dorsal ankle
Point 5 is for heel
o 1, 3 and 5 are most often used.

Hand Points

22.01
☯ Location:
In thenar area, about 1 cun from skin fold, between 1st and 2nd MC’s.
You can use the edge of the index finger, draw a line
straight down, measure 1 cun from that skin fold. This is
the flip side of Ling Gu, 22.05.
☯ Indications:
o Back Pain
o Respiratory:
Pneumonia (great point)
Common cold
Cough
Asthma (great for kids with asthma)

22.02
☯ Location:
At the joint between 1st and 2nd MC’s, about 1 cun distal and
parallel with the edge of the 1st MC from 22.01.
Flip side of Da Bai, 22.04.
☯ Indications
o High fever
o Pneumonia
o Pain
Knee Pain
Back Pain

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22.04 – Da Bai
☯ Location:
1.2 cun distal to the bony junction of the 1st and 2nd MC’s.
☯ Indications:
o Asthma in childhood (use blood letting)
o High fever (most effective)
o Sciatica due to Lung xu.

22.05 – Ling Gu
☯ Location:
At bony junction of 1st and 2nd MCs, can deep insert
through to 22.02
☯ Indications
o Pain
Sciatica, Lumbago
Leg pain
Migraine
o Hearing problems
Tinnitus
Hearing impairment
o Paralysis
Bell’s Palsy
Hemiplegia
o Gynecological
Hyper or oligo-menorrhea
Amenorrhea
Difficult delivery
Polyuria

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 Lower Arm Points

33.10 – intestine gate

☯ Location:
3 cun proximal to pisiform bone on medial side of ulna.
Right on the edge of the bone.
☯ Indications:
o Liver stuff:
Enteritis caused by hepatitis
Dizziness
Blurred vision

33.11 – liver gate

☯ Location:
6 cun proximal to pisiform bone on medial side of ulna.
Right on the edge of the bone.
☯ Indications:
o Very effective for acute hepatitis!

33.12 – heart gate

☯ Location:
1.5 cun distal to the olecranon on the medial side of the ulna
Right on the edge of the bone.
☯ Indications:
o Heart stuff:
Carditis
Palpitations
Chest oppression
o Dry heaves/dry vomiting
o Inguinal region pain
Insert + movement plus Shu point of Liver (LV3) on affected side.

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 Upper Arm Points

44.06
☯ Location:
Center of deltoid muscle, center lateral aspect of arm.
☯ Indications:
o Pain
Knee: most effective - contralateral insert
Shoulder: contralateral insert
o Skin disorders, esp of neck
o Paralysis
Hemiplegia
Poliomyelitis and infantile paralysis
o Arteriosclerosis
o Epistaxis

Dorsal Foot Points

66.05
☯ Location:
2 cun proximal to the webbing between 2nd and 3rd toes.
Just prox to ST 43…2 cun prox from ST 44.
☯ Indications:
o Stomach/Intestine stuff:
Enteritis
Gastritis
Abdominal pain (combine with Ling gu)
Dysentery
Appendicitis
Rectal prolapse
o Menstrual cramps
o Temporal migraine
o Nasal congestion

66.06
☯ Location:
1.5 cun proximal to the webbing between 3rd and 4th toes.
Single point treatment!
☯ Indications:
o Splenomegaly
o Liver disease
o Cholecystitis
o Poliomyelitis
o Leukemia
o Indigestion
o Fatigue

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66.07
☯ Location:
1 cun proximal to the webbing between the 3rd and 4th toes
☯ Indications:
Same as above minus leukemia
o Splenomegaly
o Liver disease
o Cholecystitis
o Poliomyelitis
o Indigestion
o Fatigue

66.10
☯ Location:
1.5 cun proximal to the medial side of 1st MTP
Single point treatment!
Preggers contraindication!
☯ Indications:
o Dizziness/Vertigo
o Palpitations
o Heart weakness due to hypertension

Lower Leg Points

77.01
☯ Location:
On Achilles tendon 3.5 cun directly above heel.
Right between 2 malleoli. Relax the tendon first, use a 2 cun needle,
touch the bone.
☯ Indications:
o Neck and back Pain:
Spinal pain
Lumbago
Neck pain (herniated disc, spinal stenosis)
Occiput pain
o Hydroencephalus

77.02
☯ Location:
2 cun above 77.01 or 5.5 cun above the heel.
☯ Indications:
o Same as 77.01, combine with this point for best effect.

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77.09 – middle four flowers
☯ Location:
4.5 cun distal to ST 36.
☯ Indications:
o Insert 2 – 3 cun for these:
Asthma
Opthalmalgia
o Blood let for these:
Carditis
Arteriosclerosis
Chest oppression/restlessness
Acute stomach ache
Bony swelling

The lower 3 emperors are:

☯ Heaven is SP 9 and then 77.18 is 1.5 cun below – the assistant to heaven.
☯ Earth point – SP 7.5
☯ Human - 77.21 = SP 6

77.17 – heavenly emperor

☯ Location:
Just below medial condyle of tibia.
No moxa, no preggers!
☯ Indications:
o Stomach
Hyperchlorhydria (excess stomach acid)
Esophageal reflux
o Kidney
Glomerulonephritis
Diabetes

77.18 – kidney gate

☯ Location:
1.5 cun below 77.17
☯ Indications:
o Stomach
Hyperchlorhydria (excess stomach acid)
Esophageal reflux
o Eyes
Squinting
Astigmatism
o Anemia
o Idiopathic epilepsy
o Hysteria
o Frontal headache

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 o Nasal pain
o Vertigo

77.19 – Earth emperor

☯ Location:
7 cun proximal to medial malleolus beside medial border tibia.
Not for preggers!
☯ Indications:
o Edema
o Glomerulonephritis
o Diabetes
o Early ejaculation
o Impotence
o Gonorrhea
o Hematuria
o Uterine myoma
o Lumbago due to KI xu

77.21 – Human Emperor

☯ Location:
4 cun below 77.19 (3 cun above medial malleolus) on medial posterior border of tibia.
Basically, SP 6
Not for preggers!
☯ Indications:
o Gonorrhea
o Impotence
o Early ejaculation
o Lumbago
o Hand numbness due to diabetes
o Dizziness
o Acute neck pain

77.22
☯ Location:
1.5 cun lateral to ST 36 on a horizontal line.
☯ Indications:
o Toothache due to gingivitis
o Facial nerve palsy

77.23
☯ Location:
2 points – first one is 2 cun below 77.22, 2nd one is 2 cun below that.
☯ Indications:
o Same as 77.22.

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 Thigh Points

Use only these 3 in one leg. And only pick one or two for treatment.
Use one point each leg to tx hypertension.

88.01
☯ Location:
Midline of the anterior thigh, 5 cun superior to upper border of the patella.
☯ Indications:
o Heart stuff
Heart disease
Coronary disease
Acute pericarditis
Cardiac rheumatism
Palpitations
o Floaters in vision
o Stomach ache
o Cerebral ischemia

88.02
☯ Location:
Midline of the anterior thigh, 2 cun above 88.01 (7
cun superior to upper border of the patella).
☯ Indications:
o Same as 88.01

88.03
☯ Location:
Midline of the anterior thigh, 4 cun above 88.01 (9
cun superior to upper border of the patella).
☯ Indications:
o Same as 88.01

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 Face Points

1010.19
☯ Location:
0.4 cun directly below corner of the mouth.
☯ Indications:
o Fibromyalgia and CFS due to KI xu
o Vertigo
o Blurred vision
o Lumbago, low back sprain/strain due to Qi blockage

1010.20
☯ Location:
0.5 cun medial to 1010.19.
☯ Indications:
Same as above plus asthma/cough
o Fibromyalgia and CFS due to KI xu
o Vertigo
o Blurred vision
o Lumbago, low back sprain/strain due to Qi blockage
o Asthma, cough

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